NPR 2009-06-27

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack 1 Speer.

President Obama said the unrest in Iran and the crackdown on demonstrators makes it harder for the US to engage Iran directly over its nuclear weapons program. He also dismissed a call by the Iranian President that he apologize for interfering 2 in the country's election. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

The president said that international efforts to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program continue, but the chances for a hoped-for direct US-Iranian talks have been affected 3 by recent events . As for Ahmadinejad's demand that Mr. Obama apologize.

"I don't take Mr. Ahmadinejad's statements seriously about apologies, particularly given the fact that the United States has gone out of its way not to interfere 4." The president spoke 5 at a joint 6 news conference with German leader Angela Merkel. Both condemned 7 the Iranian government-ordered violence against peaceful demonstrators. Don Gonyea, NPR News, the White House.

Democratic lawmakers today have advanced passage of a measure aimed at combating global warming , the measure approved in the House by a narrow 217 to 205 vote margin 8.  That moves the White House-backed legislation to the House floor. The legislation will impose limits on carbon dioxide and other green house gas pollutants 9.It would also call for moving away from coal and fossil fuels. The Senate is yet to act on the legislation.

Los Angeles County Coroner's office has been conducting an autopsy 10 today on the body of entertainer Michael Jackson. The fifty-year-old pop superstar was pronounced dead yesterday at UCLA Medical Center and already officials seemed to be focusing their investigation 11 on Jackson's private medical care and the possibility prescription 12 drugs played a role in his death. Meanwhile in front of Grauman Chinese Studio on Hollywood Boulevard today, fans and press swarmed 13 to Michael Jackson's star. From the Hollywood Walk of Fame, NPR's Amy Walters reports.

At nine a.m. a wreath of flowers was laid on the bold colored star bearing Michael Jackson's name. And an official for the Walk of Fame said this is the largest crowd she had ever seen mourning a celebrity 14. Terkisha Allen had a glove on her right hand in rememberance of her hero. She said she had one reaction when she heard the news. "I cried. I cried and it just hit me hard. You know, it's like losing a friend." Earlier some fans mistakenly placed flowers at the star of the wrong Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson, the DJ. Amy Walters, NPR News, Hollywood, California.

General Electric has announced plans to build a new 100-million-dollar manufacturing technology center in Michigan that is expected to eventually result in upwards 15 of 1,100 jobs. GE says the center which will include a research and development facility for scientists and engineers will work on renewable energy, aircraft engines, and gas turbines.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 34 points. The S&P 500 was down a point.

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A shootout between suspected drug gang members in Mexico has killed at least a dozen people. Authorities there say the hitmen reportedly opened fire on police and soldiers and threw grenades after officers tried to arrest them. The incident marks the latest escalation 16 in violence in Mexico where rival gangs have moved their fight for Mexico's 40-billion-dollar-a year drug trade inland from the US border.

In its first meeting since the Obama administration was inaugurated, the Quartet of Middle East Peace Negotiators is urging the Israeli government to freeze all settlement activity including natural growth. More from NPR' s Sylvia Poggioli.

Meeting on the sidelines of the Group of Eight foreign ministers meeting, representatives of the UN, European Union, United States and Russia reiterated 17 the view that the only viable 18 solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should fulfill 19 the aspirations 20 of both parties for independent homelands. Two states for two peoples, the statement said, living side by side in peace and security. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said with the Obama administration now in power there is a historic opportunity for a Midle East peace. The Quartet's statement also urged the Palestinians to commit themselves to non-violence and recognition of Israel. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Trieste.

Ham radio operators have always been a bit different and this weekend they will be trying something that only a select number are capable of --sending a signal to the moon bouncing off the lunar surface and then returning the signal to earth. The hams will be relying on borrowed parabolic antennas 21 according to a report in today's New York Times. Only about a thousand amateur radio enthusiasts 23 worldwide have stations capable of performing an earth to moon bouncing back. It means sending a signal 239,200 miles to the moon and back. One enthusiast 22 described this as ham radio's equivalent of climbing Mount Everest .

I'm Jack Speer, NPR News in Washington.